The medical jurisprudence of insanity / J.M. Pagan.

  • Pagan, J. M. (John MacMichan), 1802-1868.
Date:
1843
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical jurisprudence of insanity / J.M. Pagan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    general question, Marc has observed, that women are more subject than men to this disease, and thej'^ are par- ticularly so at the menstrual periods. All our authorities upon insanity agree that menstruation has a very decided influence upon mental alienation, and even operates as one of its causes; and it is well known that insanity shows itself during the time that the menses are flowing, before they are expected, or when they have ceased; it is influenced by irregularities in that secretion, and it is most frequently at this period that women commit suicide. The period of the menstrual return is always a dangerous one for insane patients; an increase in the severity of their sj'mptoms is manifested, and they not unfrequently upon these occasions, display a degree of violence which during the interval does not exist; and this takes place even though there may be no irregularity, or disease in the menstrual function itself. It is no uncommon thing to see patients almost in a state of complete dementia, Avho, nevertheless, at the return of the menstrual period, are so violent as to require restraint. Now, this period is well known not only to aggravate the symptoms of the insane, but to produce in those of sound mind a degree of irrita- bility of temper which they exhibit at no other time. Marc has mentioned the case of a cook, who menstruated regularly as to time, quantity, &c., ■vvho, during the exist- ence of the discharge, did not loose her reason, but who seemed so dangerous, from the threats which she used, and the violence which on one occasion she attempted, that she was confined to a mad house. The fact that Cor- nier was menstruating affords a certain degree of corrobo- I'ation to the opinion that she was insane.* A curious cir- cumstance in the history of the case under notice, is the * Marc Consultation Medico-Legale pour H. Cornier.